Plate-sheet-steel turbine frame



Nov. 2o, 192s. 1,692,211

G. A. JESSOP `PLATE SHEET STEEL TURBINE FRAME Filed 0G15. 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet IIIIIIII w, @JM/@b1 aucun,

G. A. JESSOP PLATE SHEET STEEL TURBINE FRAIS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29. 1925 Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. JESSOP, .OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO S. MORGAN SMITH COM-` PANY, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFk PENNSYLVANIA.

PLATE-SHEETl-STEEL TUBBINE FRAME.

Application led October 29, 1925. Serial No. 65,709.

The present invention relates to turbinev structures and particularly to a novel form of 'frame or casing structure.

The principal object of the invention is to dispense with cast or heavy metal structures or parts and replace the latter b plate sheet steel structural elements, to re uce the cost of manufacture and installation without in the least detracting from the necessary strength and strain resistance of the frame parts or casing of turbine wheels or runners.

A further object of the invention is to economically and eli'ectively assemble the plate sheet steel substitute parts in the frame or casing of a turbine wheel or runner and to utilize to the best advantage plate sheet steel as it comes from the rolling mills in forming the several parts embodying the features of improvement.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several partswhich will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

1n the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of a turbine embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 isa top) plan view of the turbine structure shown y Fig. 1 with a portion of the top removed and the stems or pivots for the 'gates shown in horizontal section.

The general arrangement of the turbine is similar to that usually adopted and comprises a shaft 5 having a runner or wheel 6 secured to the lower end thereof, the shaft being mounted in a suitable bearing support 7, usually of cast or heavy metal and embod ing features of adjustment well known in t e art of hydraulics.` Around the runner' or wheel 6 the'usual complement of gates 8 is disposed, each gate having a stem or pivot rod 9 and all of the gates as shown in the` present instance are shiftable as a unit to openor `close the same through the medium of a gate ring 10 connected to the lower outside portions of the gates and operable' through the medium of connecting rods 11 running to an operating means 12, commonly employed in mechanisms of this sort and as clearly shown by Fig. 2. Below the runner or wheel 6 the usual form of draft tube 13 is applied and depends from a ring 144.l

he special features of the improvement are a top covering or plate organization, generally designated by the numeral 15, and a lower supportlng organization 16. The top organization 15 is made up of plate sheet steel -at regular intervals reinforcing radial ribs 22, which increase in dimensions from the outer edge of the said member 17 over and across the member 18. The base of the member or outer covering 17 is upwardly flared at its outer edge, as at 23, and at a predetermined intermediate point the said member or outercovering 17 is formed with an annular indentation 24, to receivey therein at regular spaced intervals bearing blocks or elements having openings extending entirel therethrough and formed from round stoc by cutting the latter in regular lengths in accordance with the dimensions of the bearing block desired. The indentation 24 is located over the gate centers and the bearing blocks 25 are secured in the indentation preferably by electric welding, the gate stems 9 passing upwardly through the said blocks and secured at their upper ends as at 26. The inner edge of the member or outer covering 17 is secured to the angular ring 21, the latter being L-shaped as shown and is in turn secured vto the outer edge of the inner covering member 18. To the inner edge portion of the inner covering member 18 reversely positioned, L-shaped or angular rin s 19 and 2O are secured, the ring 20 being irectly connected to the inner covering member 18, and the ring 19 to a heavier metal flange or ledge 27 near the base of the support 7. The upwardly projecting flange of the ring 20 and the adjacent downwardly projecting ilange of the ring 19 are securely fastened and by this means a tight structure is provided in the top covering which consists essentially of plate sheet steel. The rings 17, 19 and 20 are bent an le irons ofstandard shapes and can be readi y purchased from an structural steel manufacturer. Between t e bearing points of the upper ends of the gate-stems or rods9, or between the bearing blocks 25, other strengthening ribs 28 extend, as shown by Fig. 2, and intersect the ribs 22 at these bearing points, or at such points where the greatest resistance is necessary and which obviously is at the point where the gate stems or rods operate.

The lower platesheet steel supporting organization 16 comprises, or is in the form of,

rinoI having an upwardly and inwardly inclined inner wall 29 and a base or foot flange 30 with upwardly diverged ribs 3l extending around between the said wall and flange at regular intervals. The foot flange 30 is secured to the ring 14 and the upper edge of the wall 29 is secured to the inner edge of a top ring or annulus 32, the latter having' an upwardly projecting annular indentation or scat 33 in line with the indentation or seat 24 above, to receive bearing collars 3l, through which extend the lower ends of the gate stems or-rodsl 9 and are secured by suitable nuts or analogous means 35. rlhe outer edge of the top annulus 32 is secured to a bearing ring 36, which depends to the bottom of the gate ring 10 and has an inward indentation 37, to receive an inwardly projecting boss 38 of the said gate ring. This bearing ring 36 may also be formed of plate sheet steel and will effectively perform its function. The reverse annular indentations or seats 2st and 33 provide opposed inwardly projecting raises a distance' apart, just suiiicient to cover the radial extent of the gates when the latter are fully closed, to reduce the water leakage to a minimum. However, the gates permitted 'to have ample clearance between the said reversely positioned raises, so that they may Workfreely in opening and closing. It may be necessary to machine the opposed raises provided by the reverse indentations 24 and 33, to provide for the necessary' or enact clearance, but owing to the normal smoothness of remaining port-ions of the surfaces of the plate sheet steel elements or parts in which the said indentations are formed, machining thereof is unnecessary.

iny the securement of the several part-s of the plate sheet steel members hereinbefore described, it is proposed to use any means Aand locate the said means to the best advantage, and it is. preferred to electrically weldthe said parts and to adopt other features of assemblage that would be obviously ,advantageous from a standpoint of economy without detracting from the essential features of 'the invention, which consist in the replacement of heavy met-al parts by pla-te sheet steel parte of a much lighter character and at the same time preserve the necessary strength and durability of the turbine organization.

In formin the several plate sheet steel parts, they w1ll be cut from plate steel sheets ,as they come from the rolling mills, the larger parts being laid out with relation to the outer portions of one plate and the smaller parts.

cut from the interior removed parts of the outer larger parts. For instance, the outer top covering 17 will require a greater area of recaen the plate to meet'the dimensionsltlieieof and the inner top covering member 18 may be cut `from the part removed from the interiorof ribs and smaller parts. Bending` operations of the several plate sheet steel,components will be adopted when necessary, and -all the parts will be formed with economy in time and material.

The plate sheet steel structureliereinbefore described, being materially lighter than ythe ordinary heavy cast or other .v metalA parts usually employed, embodies a-turther advantage in that the cost of transportation of the parts of the turbine from the shop kto the place of installation is reduced toa considerable extent.

What is claimed as new is: i

l. ln a turbine frame or casing- )structure, the combination with gates, a runner-,a shaft and bearing support for the. shaft, of: -a top covering composed of plate sheetsteel comprising outer and inner covering jmembers connected by an interposed angular member,

the inner covering member beingsecured toa part of the bearing support, and a. lower supporting organization composedvof pla-tesheet steel, the outer top covering .member and lower supporting organization Ahaving 1:the gate stems extending therethrough.

2. In a turbine frame or casingfstructure,

the combination with a plurality ofgatesa runner, a shaft connected to therunner` and a bearing support for the shaft` of, top covering formed of plate sheet st'eelfalnd comprising an outer covering membe coveringmember and securingmea l the two members and a partof the baring. support, the outer covering'memberflaving radial ribs extending thereoverand" inner covering member, a lower steel supporting organization, tion of the said lower supporting tion and the top cover member having' `"nden-` tations to receive bearing devicejs,l tl iefsteins of the gates passing through the d.be`aring' devices, and ribs extending betwee h upper bearing devices forthe stems and intefis'ecting the radial ribs of the top cover 3. In a turbine frame or casing for controlling the supply of: runner, of plate sheet steel top coverin bers over the gates and having't'h Vover;y the4 l f e 9,1114." bination with a runner, a shaftjfiiftlieflatter, a bearing support for the shaftf'and gites'v 'the recaen to the bearing support, and a lower supporting organization also formed of plate sheet steel and having the lower extremlties of the gate stems extending therethrough and secured, the top covering having angular rings serving as securing means between the parts thereof and the said bearing support.

4. In a turbine frame or casing, the com# Y tube ring and comprising a top member, the

outer portion of the top covering and the top ortion of the supporting organization having reversely formed'annular indentations to receive bearing devices for the ends of the stems and form engaging means for the ed es of the gates when the latter are closed w1th ample clearance for said edges and reduction of water leakage to a minimum.

5. In a turbine frame or casing, the combination with a runner, a shaft secured to the runner, a bearing support for the shaft, a plurality of gates around the runner having stems projecting above and below the same and a draft tube having an up er ring, of a top covering formed of plate s eet steel disposed over the gates and runner and connected to the bearing su port, the inner member of the top coverin being elevated to accommodate the upwar projection of the runner, and a lower. supporting organization also formed of plate sheet steel resting on the draft tube ring and comprlsin a top member, an inner inwardly incline wall having a lower foot flange secured to the draft tube ring, Ithe outer portion of the top covering and the top portion of the supporting or anization having reversely formed indentations to provide opposed raises for clearance engagement means for the edges of the gates when the latter are closed and to reduce water leaka e to a minimum.

6. n a turbine, the combination with gates, a runner, a shaft and bearing support with a central opening for a bearing for the shaft, of a casing consisting of plate sheet steel structures applied over the top portion of the runner and gates and over the outer portion below the gates and extending. from the outer periphery1 of the gates to said bearing support and t e runner, respectively, the said structures being provided with opposed bearing means for the gate stems.

7. In a turbine, the combination with gates, a runner, a shaft, a bearing support having a central openin therethrough to receive a bearin for the s aft, of a casing comprising plate s eet steel structures arranged over the top portions of the runner and gates and extending from the outer periphery of the gates to the said bearing support, a lower plate sheet steel annular structure extending outwardly from the outer portion of the runner below the gates, the lower plate sheet steel structure having an inner inwardly inclined wall adjacent to the lower outer portion of the runner.

8. In a turbine, the combination with gates, a runner, a shaft, a bearing support with an opening therethrough for a bearing for the shaft, of a casing comprising a plate sheet steel top covering arranged over the upper ortions of the runner and gates and extending from the outer periphery of the gates to sald bearing support, and a lower annular plate sheet steel supporting organization also extending outwardly from the periphery of the runner below the gates to the outer limit of the casing and having an inner, upwardly converging wall ad'acent to the lower portion of the runner blades, the said top coverin and lower supporting organization having caring means for the opposite terminals of the stems of the gates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE A. JESSOP. 

